Method and apparatus for completing pressed blown ware or blown ware



May 10, 1932. R. J. BEATTY 1,857,491

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETING PRESSED BLOWN WARE OR BLOWN WAREFiled Sept. 20. 1927 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNYS.

R. J. B EATTY May 1'9, @332.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETING PRESSED BLOWN WARE OR BLOWN WAREFiled Sept. 20 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVZTOR.

I 6 s a a ,M, A TTORNEYS.

.. .Patentecl May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT J. BEATTY,OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TO THE FEDERAL GLASS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETING PRESSEDBLOWN WARE OR BLOWN WARE Application filed September 20, 1927. SerialNo. 220,674.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for completing pressedblown ware or blown ware. It has to do, )rimarily, with the treatment ofthe blown blank which results in the conversion of this blown blank intothe finished article.

In the past, the usual method of treating the blown blank to convert itinto the finished article has consisted in passing it through a lehr andthen subjecting it to a series of operations by relatively independentunits which are each manually fedwith the article in progressive stages.Usually, there is a device fed manually for severing the cap from theblown article which frequently takes the into a grinder which grinds theedges thereof.

Then, this tumbler is manually introduced into a washer which washes offthe dust from the grinding operation. Then, the ware is manually fed toa melting or glazing machine.

After this, it is manually fed to a lehr to minimize the strains set upin the melting and glazing apparatus. It is obvious, that in thisprocess, there is a very great amount of handling of the article with aconsequently'high labor cost.

Other processes have been devised in an effort to decrease the number ofnecessary operations but these have been attended by comparativelyslight success. In one of these operations, tbe usual flame crack-offdevice has been replaced by an acetylene or hydrogen cut-off apparatuswhich is semi-automatic but which must be manipulated by an operator.This device is supposed to render grinding 40 of the edges of thetumbler unnecessary but,

in practice, a large percentage of the articles must be re-ground.

My invention is aimed at the development of a process which willlargely, if not entirely,

eliminate the necessity for manual intervention and which will at thesame time reduce the steps of operation. Furthermore, my aim is torearrange these steps of operation in such a way as to produce asuperior product with less loss from breakage.

for a period and under conditions which will remove the strains from thearticles. This lehr is preferably provided with an automatic carrierwhich conducts the ware through the annealing area. After thearticlesleave the annealing area, I transfer them either manually orautomatically to a second conveyor unit which automatically conveysthese blown blanks to a flame crack-off and rotates these blanks in aproper position while passing them under subjection to a row or rows offlames which form a part of this flame crackolf. As they emerge from theflame crackotf, the caps which have been severed from the blanks arepreferably blown therefrom automatically or these tops may be supportedduring the severing action by means provided and may be rexnoveditherduring or immediately after passing through the severmg umt. m

After leaving the severing unit, the blanks, with the caps removed, areconveyed automatically upon the same conveying unit to and through aglazing and melting unit. After leaving this glazing and melting unitupon the conveyor, they are transferred either automatically or manuallyto the conveyor of a second lchr which may be of the same type as thefirst lehr.

The apparatus which I preferably use in performing my process is shownin the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts and wherein Figure 1 is a perspectiveview, partially broken away, of the lehr unit which I prefer to use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my flame crack-off and melting andglazing apparatus together with the conveying unit for conducting theblown blanksto and through them.

Figure is a perspective view. partially broken away, of my flamecrack-01f unit.

Figure 4 is an end view, partly in section, of the device shown inFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of my second conveyor unit and showing theair finger which I preferably utilize for blowing the severed caps fromthe blanks.

Figure 6 is a modified form of device for removing the severed caps fromthe blanks.

Figure 7 is a detailed view illustrat ng the supporting wires of thedevice of Figure 6 which pass beneath the flanges of the caps, thisfigure also illustrating the fingers which project into the cap openingsand move them along the supportingwires.

In the drawings, the first annealing un t may be designated 1. Thisannealing un t may take various forms but I have shown it as embodyingpositively heated channels 2 and 3 and a supplementarychannel 4 which isnot directly heated but which may be attached to the annealing unit.This channel 4 is shown with its top removed. The annealing' unit isonly shown diagrammatically and it may take various forms. Likewise, itmay be'heated in any desired manner.

Movable through the annealing unit is an endless carrier 5 formed ofnumerous sections hinged together and carrying a series of cups 6. Thesecups 6 are designed to receive the blown blanks, preferably at stationA, and to transport these blown blanks first through compartment 2 onthe lehr, then through compartment 3 of the lehr and area 4 thereof,these blanks being preferably removedifor transfer at station B.- Itwill be understood that the endless conveyor may be driven by the mainsprocket 7 and may pass around sprockets 8, 9 and 10.

In the operation of the mechanism thus far described, the blown blanksas they leave the shaping machine or the blow-pipe are placed upon theconveyor 5 at station A and pass through the annealing compartments 2and 3 of the lehr with the result that the strains are substantiallyremoved therefrom. After leaving compartment 3, these blanks areconducted through the area 4 and are finally removed at station B. Atthis time, these blanks are transferred either automatically or manuallyto station C of the endless conveg or mechanism shown in Figure 2.

his mechanism shown in Figure 2 comprises an endless conveyor 11 drivenby sprocket 12 and passing around sprockets 13, 13 and 14. It receivesthe blown blanks at station 0 and conducts them in the direction of thearrows to a flame crack-off unit 15. It conducts these blown blanksthrough this crack-off unit 15 which may be covered if desired undersubjection to burner crack-off members to be subsequently described indetail. Mechanism is provided, as will also be described, for causingrotation of these blanks whileunder subjection to the crackofi flame.

After leaving the crack-off unit 15, these blanks with the severed capsthereon pass into subjection to a finger of air which blows each capinto a waste chute 16. If desired, means may be provided, between theend of the crack-off unit from which the glass articles emerge and thefinger of air, for chilling the glass ,articles at the line at which thetops are severed therefrom to insure positive removal of the tops fromthe articles.

After the blanks, with the caps removed have passed beyond the airfinger, they pass into and through a glazing and melting unit 17 Thisglazing and melting unit may be of any suitable form. It serves to glazeand fire polish the glassware and melts and smooths the top edges of thearticles.

After the articles'leave the glazing and melting unit, they are removedat station D and sent through an annealing lehr. This annealing lehr maybe of substantially the same construction as the annealing lehr shown inFigure 1. It will serve to remove the strains which have been set up bypassage through the glazing and melting unit or in other ways.

-The crack-off unit may vary as to form but the detailed construction ofthe form which I have shown is disclosed best in Figures 3 and 4 and issubstantially as follows:

Such crack-off unit consists of a frame 18 which frame is madein twoparts, connected together at their lower end and so formed as to have anopening 19 between the upper edges thereof when the frame is inassembled relation. Each part of the frame is provided with the angleiron ways 20 upon spindles 22 are rotatable in bushings 23 that aredriven or otherwise inserted into the joints between the links of theconveyor chain 11, and these bushings form a bearing surface for suchspilidles.

A pinion gear 24 is rigidly mounted upon the lower end of each'spindlein such position as to mesh with the rack 21 and rotate the spindle anda spool 25 is rotatably mounted upon each spindle immediately above thejoints made by connecting the links and immediately below the cup 26which is rigidly mounted upon the extreme upper end of each spindle. Thespools 25 make a tight fit with the opening 19 in the frame 18 andprevent lateral movement of the spindle as it asses through the cuttingunit.

- Iorizontal supports 27 support the burners 28, which burners are madeof any suitable material, and such horizontal supports have the threadedrods 29 rigidly attached thereto and depending downwardly therefrom.These threaded rods extend through the castings or plates 30 in themanner shown in Figure 4. Nuts 31 on the threaded rods hold the supports27 in the position necessary to obtain the proper level of the nozzles32 that are disposed in a horizontal row along the inner faces of theburners 26.

Guides 33 disposed on each side of the castings of plates 30 preventlateral or ver-- tical movement of the castings orplates whilepermitting horizontal longitudinal adjustments of the same. Suchhorizontal longitudinal adjustment is controlled by means of the screwbolts 34 that are threaded into the castings or plates 30 as shown inFigure 4. The outer end of the screw bolts 34 are provided with collars35 and 36 which are so disposed on the screw bolts as to embrace theplates 37, rigidly attached to the frame 18, when the screw bolts aredisposed in slots therein. Such construction permits rotation of thescrew bolts but prevents horizontal longitudinal movement of such bolts,therefore, permits in and out adjustment of the castings or plates 30and the burners supported thereby. Such adjustment will move the nozzles32 towards and away from the tumblers or similar glass articles carriedby the conveyor.

, The burners 28 are made up of a double row of burner castings, one rowon each side of the line of travel of the tumblers or similar glassarticles, and each casting is equipped with a row of spaced burnernozzles 32as hereinbefore described. As clearly illustrated in Figure 4,the burner nozzles are small and have minute openings through which theflame issues in the form. of a pin point. As a result of the burnersbeing spaced, the tumblers or similar glass articles along the line atwhich cracking oil is desired are-subjected to an alternate heating andcooling action. Also, a small haiile 32 is preferably provided-in eachof the burner castings to distribute the incoming gases evenlythroughout the interior of the burner casting. Each row of burnercastings preferably consists of a plurality of such castings. tl at aresubstantially the same as to length, placed end to end on one of thesupports 28 and each separate burner casting is preferably independentof the others as far as fuel control is concerned. However, it will beunderstood that each row of burner castings may consist of any desirednumber of castings and these castings may be dependent upon each otherin the matter of fuel control if such construction is desired.

The air finger cap remover is best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings andis constructed as follows tripping mechanism is mounted upon verticalsupport 38 and such tripping mechanism is preferably made adjustable asto position on this vertical support. The tripping mechanism preferablycomprises the tripping arm 39 that is fulcrumed to an arm 40 as at 41.The outer end of this tripping arm 39 a valve stem 42 which forms a partof the valve 43. When the tripping arm 39 contacts with the spindle22'and'is moved forwardly the valve 43 will be pulled open and constantair under pressure will be permitted to flow througlrthe pipe 44 pastthe valve 43 and through the pipe 45 to contact with'the severed top ofthe tumbler or similar glass article in the conveyor. As clearly shownin Figure 5 the constant air under pressure striking the severed tops ofthe tumblers or similar glass articles at the necked in portion of thetop will blow these tops into a chute 16 or some other receptacle in themanner shown in Figure 5. As also shown-in Figure 5'tl1e constant airpipe 45 passes through or is rigidly attached to a block 47 which blockis adjustable on the vertical support 38 so as to bring the pipe 45 tothe proper angle required into the chute 16 or other receptacle.

In order that the burner elements 28 may be adjusted to exactly theproper height with respect to the articles being conveyed through thecutting unit, I have provided graduated scales 54 which are rigidlyattached to the castings or plates 30 and extend perpendicularly upwardtherefrom. These graduated scales cooperate with lugs or extensions 55on the horizontal supports 27. As is clearly shown in Figure 3 of thedrawings, the burner elements 28 may be adjusted so that the nozzles 30will impinge a flame at exactly that line on the glass articles at whichthe top is to be cracked off.v This is accomplished by raising orlowering the supports 28 until the lugs 55 register at the same heightson the graduated scales 54. Graduated scales may be provided as anintegral part of the mechanism governing the horizontal longitudinalmovement of the castings or plates 30 with the burner elements 28thereon.

A wire and finger cap remover may be used by me as asubstitute for theair finger cap remover if desired. This device is shown best in Figures6 and 7 and is preferably constructed in the following manner: v

An endless belt 48, made ofsome suitable material, passing around pulleywheels 49 and 50 has wire fingers 51 mounted thereon at posed beneaththe top edges of the tops of the tumblers or similar glass articles asshown in Figure '4'. As the tops are severed in the. passage of theblanks through the cutting unit they are, prevented from falling andthen lifted from the glass articles by the upwardly extending conveyortrack. At substantially the same time that the tumblers or similar glassarticles enter the cutting unit the wire fingers 51 traveling on theconveyor belt 48 7 enter the tops of the articles as shown in Figure 6.After they are lifted entirely away from the body of the tumblers orsimilar glass articles the tops may be carried to a chute or otherreceptacle by the wire conveyor track or may beremoved from the conveyortrack by hand.

The term crack-oil unit" may be understood as defining a unit of anysuitable form in which a series of flames. hot enough to set up acracking strain along a selected line but not hot enough to melt theglass, are used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for finishing, an article of glassware of the typedescribed, comprising means for annealing the article, a fluid means forcracking off the cap, a fluid means for removing, the severed cap, afluid melting and polishing means, and a means for supporting andconveying said article of glassware without stoppage through saidannealing means, through said fluid crack-oil means, through said fluidcap removing means, and through said fluid melting and polishing means.

2. The method of removing excess material from glass blanks whichcomprises continuously conveying blanks past a crack-oil station.rotating said blanks while passing said crack-off station. and effectingcracking ofif at said crack-oil" station by causing each blank at theline at which cracking off is desired to contact in turn with each of aseries of pin points of flame which are arranged along the line oftravel of said blanks and spaced so as to cause an alternate heating andcooling of the blanks along the cracking off line while said blanks areboth rotating and travelling through said crack-oil" station.

3. The method of removing excess material from glass blanks whichcomprises continuously conveying blanks past a crack'ofi station,rotating said blanks while passing said crack-off station, and effectingcracking otf at said crack-0H station by causing each blank at the lineat which cracking off is de-- sired to contact in turn with each pair ofa series of opposed pairs of pin points of flame which are arrangedalong the line of travel of said blanks and spaced so as to cause analternate heating and cooling of the blanks along the cracking off linewhile said blanks are both rotating and travelling through saidcrack-off station.

4. The method of removing excess material from glass blanks whichcomprises continuously conveying blanks with their caps uppermost past acrack-oil station, rotating said blanks while passing said crack-offstation, and efl ecting cracking ml at said crack-off station by causingeach blank at the line at which cracking oil" is desired to contact inturn with each of a series of opposed parallel pairs of pin points offlame which are arranged along the line of travel of said blanks andspaced so as to cause an alternate heating and cooling of the blanksalong the cracking oil line while said blanks are both rotating andtravelling through said crack-off station.

5. Apparatus for removing excess material from glass blanks comprisingan endless conveyor. a series of blank supporting members on saidconveyor. means for impinging each one of a series of pin points offlame upon each blank at the line at which cracking off is desired asthey are transported by said conveyor, said pin points of flame beingspaced so as to eti'ect an alternate heating and cooling of the blanksalong the cracking off line. and means for rotating said blanks as theyare transported under subjection to the said series of spaced pin pointsof flame.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

ROBERT J. BEATTY.

